Inside Marcus Rashford's first week at Aston Villa: Training on his days off, the truth about THAT unveiling photo and 'striker whisperer' Unai Emery's tailor-made plan to get Man United outcast back to his best

Marcus Rashford, the exiled prince of Manchester United, has come to the place where footballers mix with true royalty. As he tries to put his career back on track, Rashford needs a period free from distraction and he could scarcely have found a better location. Situated in the north Warwickshire countryside, Aston Villa’s training base near the village of Bodymoor Heath is so remote that even the future King can visit without anybody noticing.

The Prince of Wales is a huge Villa fan and has watched Unai Emery lead first-team sessions in recent times, as well as attending many of Villa’s European fixtures in the last two seasons. He will see Rashford in action on the grandest stages once more. Ruben Amorim has refused to pick Rashford and the United boss’ predecessor Erik ten Hag remarked on the forward’s ‘lifestyle’ and ‘professionalism’ last September.

There was the incident in November 2023, when Ten Hag said Rashford had apologised after he was seen in a nightclub following a defeat in the Manchester derby. Marcus Rashford has joined Aston Villa on an initial loan with an option to buy for £40million. Villa could end up paying 90 per cent of Rashford's £315,000-a-week wages during his spell. Rashford fell out of favour with United boss Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford in December.

And in February 2024, he was left out of the squad for an FA Cup tie against Newport when he missed training after staying out until the early hours in a Belfast bar. But Rashford is hardly the only player whose career has stalled at United in recent times. Much was made on social media of the 27-year-old’s appearance in photographs when he signed for Villa, but it can be revealed that when Rashford’s body fat was measured, his results were the fourth-best in the Villa squad. He is said to have trained very well this week.

Emery demands total dedication from his players and will have been interested to note Rashford’s use of cryotherapy to aid recovery, with his own chamber at home. Emery believes he can be one of the most effective attackers in the world and to revive his career, Rashford would be wise to follow the example of Jack Grealish. The Manchester City attacker has had his share of off-field scrapes but during his time at Villa, Grealish made himself into a £100million player. The football world knew of Grealish’s talent, though not many witnessed the hard work that helped him fulfil it.

The security staff at Bodymoor certainly did. More than once, when they moved around the training ground towards evening to shut it down for the day, they would find the lights still on in the first-team gym still as Grealish worked away, long after his team-mates had departed. Without that commitment, it is doubtful he would ever have joined City, let alone win seven trophies there. It is up to Rashford now. He has the perfect setting, a supportive fanbase and, in Emery, a striker whisperer for a manager. The Villa boss has worked successfully with numerous forwards and is confident he can do the same with Rashford.

Emery has made it clear what he expects from his players. ‘Your lifestyle outside the club is reflected inside,’ he has said. ‘The mentality is to think football and show high commitment to your club and your team-mates.’. Compare that with Amorim’s parting shot on Thursday. ‘I couldn't get Marcus to see the way you're supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,’ said the United boss.

If Rashford can adapt to Emery’s demands and concentrate solely on his job, he and Villa can have a memorable end to the season. He might even outlast Amorim at Old Trafford, should United continue to struggle. It promises to be an eventful few weeks. Amorim's parting shot to Rashford was that he could not get his message across to him. Rashford was a fan favourite at Old Trafford but the goals have dried up in the last two years.

He joined United at the age of eight and netted 138 goals in 426 senior appearances. It was a phone call from Emery in the final days of January that convinced Rashford to move to Villa Park. Just as importantly, Emery heard the answers from Rashford that he wanted. During that discussion, Rashford is said to have been humble and focused, and explained that his only wish now is to have a fresh start, away from United, and to play regularly.

Emery is among the most demanding coaches in the Premier League and explained to Rashford that he would not be here for an easy ride. Again, Rashford is said to have impressed with his response. Villa are convinced he has the ambition and drive to reach the top. Rashford arrived at Bodymoor Heath last Sunday to complete the formalities of his move, a loan deal until the end of the season that could mean Villa paying up to 90 per cent of his £315,000-a-week wages. He held talks with Villa’s team of nutritionists and completed a short session in the gym.